Catching char on a spinning rod and a float rod, on the Kola Peninsula

Char is the most beautiful fish from the salmon family, which is found in our reservoirs. The char has an elongated body, as befits a salmon, covered with small scales. The presence of small scales on such a large fish was the reason for its name. Char comes from the word “naked”, which is quite consonant with its name. At the same time, there are a number of species of char that live in rivers, lakes and seas.

Arctic char is divided into anadromous, which enters rivers to spawn, and lacustrine-river char, which is constantly within the rivers and lakes in which it lives. These fish differ in size to which they grow. Anadromous char can gain weight up to 15 kg, with a size of about 80 cm, and lake-river char rarely gains 1,5 kg of weight. Fish has very valuable and tasty meat if it is smoked or withered. In this regard, char is the object of fishing on Kola Peninsula and in Kamchatka. In the recent past, char, like other sturgeons, formed the basis of the diet of the inhabitants who inhabited these areas.

When to catch char

Charr is caught year-round, regardless of whether the reservoir is covered with ice or not. The only difference is in the methods of fishing and the gear that is used to catch it. In open water, char can be caught on spinning, on a float rod and in fly fishing. It is possible to use other gear, no less effective. As for winter, it is caught on the usual winter street using baubles.

Successful fishing should be guided early in the morning or late in the evening. The rest of the time, its activity decreases sharply, although bites can still be counted on. Anadromous char enters the rivers somewhere in June-July. But during this period it is impossible to catch it, therefore, when caught, the fish should be released. According to official data, its populations have fallen sharply due to uncontrolled fishing.

Lures for catching it are used depending on the time of year, as is its search, since it can be located in any part of the reservoir.

Where to catch char

The main food of the loach is small fish, so it very often chases after it, despite the fact that it prefers to be closer to the bottom. From time to time, he rises closer to the surface of the water, where he finds insects that have fallen into the water. This indicates that it can also be caught with bottom gear. The main thing is to find his parking place.

At the same time, the location of fish on water horizons depends on weather conditions. If the weather is clear and sunny outside, then the char prefers to stay at a depth of 5 m or more. If cloudy weather is observed, then he can hunt in shallow water. Oddly enough, but this fish does not tolerate bright sunlight and, at the first opportunity, moves to a depth where direct sunlight does not reach. Knowing about such preferences of char, you can focus on gear for catching it, depending on weather conditions.

Charr likes to be on flat areas of a reservoir with a rocky bottom. Here he hunts small whitefish, grayling and other fish species. It can be detected by the characteristic splashes on the surface of the reservoir when it chases “little things” or collects insects that have fallen into the water.

Depending on the season, the places of parking of this fish also change. After the end of winter and the release of ice from the reservoir, char can be found in deep water areas, since the water has not yet had time to warm up to the optimum temperature. Closer to the spawning period, the char moves to smaller areas. One of the most catchy areas may be a stretch before a roll. If it is not deep and occupies a large area, and a stream flows nearby, which saturates the water with oxygen, then this is an ideal place for char. It is these places that can please the angler with a good catch.

What to catch char

The choice of bait also depends on the choice of gear, especially, as mentioned above, that it can be caught on spinning, on a regular float rod and fly fishing. This article will look at how to catch char on a spinning rod and on a float. This is due to the fact that not everyone knows the technique of fly fishing, but almost everyone, young and old, is familiar with such simple gear as spinning and float fishing rods. Despite the simplicity of gear, there are certain tricks associated with salmon fishing. In addition, you need to choose the right equipment.

Catching char on spinning

To catch char should be on a light and, at the same time, strong rod. The fact is that salmon species of fish show serious resistance when playing, and char is no exception. It is advisable to equip the rod with braided line, 0,12 mm in diameter, or monofilament line, 0,3-0,4 mm thick.

Local anglers, who have been practicing char fishing for years, have mastered their equipment, which uses an additional sinker, weighing 30-40 g. It is attached to a separate leash, which is thinner than the main line. At the same time, the spinner is attached to a leash, 60 cm long, and the sinker is attached to a leash, 40 cm long.

On each reservoir, it is possible to use different baits, depending on the preferences of the fish. In order not to waste precious time on experiments, you should ask local fishermen what kind of bait the char prefers to take on this reservoir. Although it is not a fact that local fishermen are ready to share their secrets. Despite this, many experienced spinners claim that the char pursues spinners with petals decorated with yellow and white droplets.

Oscillating baubles or wobblers are also promising when catching char. His preferences are established only experimentally directly in the process of fishing. This fish is unpredictable and at one time the char can take on a small spinner, and at another time he may like a weighty spoon. Therefore, it is better to ask local fishermen, they certainly know what char is caught on.

They begin to catch promising places from the coastal zone, constantly moving deeper into the reservoir. This is a common tactic for spinners. If you start from long distances, then there is a high probability of frightening off the char, which hunts in shallow water, namely in the coastal zone.

Video “Catching a large char on a spinning rod”

Catching char with a float rod

It is possible to use an ordinary float fishing rod, but fishing is carried out in wiring. The rod should be chosen long, not shorter than 3 meters, equipped with an inertialess reel. This is necessary in order to be able to quickly play off the fishing line, releasing the tackle into free swimming in the pond. The thickness of the fishing line, as in spinning fishing, is 0,3-0,4 mm. The hook will fit No. 9-11 according to domestic marking or No. 4-1, according to Japanese. In this case, a leash is used, 30 cm long and 0,25 mm thick. The most common bait and the most catchy is the caviar of other salmon fish, such as chinook salmon, coho salmon, chum salmon, etc. Naturally, this is too expensive, but local anglers can afford such a luxury. If for many inhabitants of the country red caviar is a delicacy, then for the inhabitants of Kamchatka it is an ordinary food.